Health disparities research is enabled by data diversity but requires much tighter integration of collaborative efforts

The world is diverse, and this needs to be better recognized and addressed in health research. Health Disparities (HD) are a growing concern, which affects not only the world at a global scale, but individual countries and their own diversity [1]. The spectrum of individual health is moulded not solely by genetics or socio-economics [2], but by a combination of numerous factors, which include other key parameters such as geographic location [3] (to reflect rurality or segregation that can reduce access to care), impeding monitoring, risk reduction, diagnosis, and treatment of medical conditions [4]. The multifaceted nature of the problem demands availability of relevant data, analysis approaches, and research infrastructure. In addition to interdisciplinary partnerships among scientists in health, geography, data science or sociology, work is also needed to unite researchers, clinicians, politicians, and the communities themselves (Figure 1). Only such harmonious integration across stakeholders will ensure the impact of complex health data are accurate, useful, and actionable. Failure to accommodate the diversity of needs using equally diverse and relevant data results in HD.